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CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES
for our STELLA MARIS
Family of Parishes
including:
St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette,
St. Mary & St. Peter
March 17
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WHAT CAN WE LEARN THIS SUNDAY?
The readings for the 5th Sunday of Lent for Year B
focus on God's covenant with us,
even though we are often unfaithful.
The first reading speaks of a new covenant.
The second reading speaks of the obedience of
Jesus Christ brought about our salvation.
And in the Gospel Jesus foretells his death
and explains that those who follow him will find eternal life.
Click the link below to discover more detailed information:
5TH SUNDAY OF LENT TEACHINGS
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START SOMEWHERE CHALLENGE
GET BACK INTO SPIRITUAL SHAPE
The Start Somewhere Challenge at Stella Maris invites all Catholics
to attend at least one Eucharistic event
(Mass, quiet prayer in a church, a talk, a concert)
between February and July 2024.
There’s plenty to choose from because we’re
launching our own Eucharistic Revival.
Click the link below to watch Brad Bursa explain this challenge:
BRAD DISCUSSES STARTING SOMEWHERE
Click the link below to DOWNLOAD the Eucharistic Revival @ Stella Maris Flyer:
EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL @ STELLA MARIS FLYER
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PRAYING THE STATIONS
OF THE CROSS
WITH BISHOP BARRON
Praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent
has been a Church tradition for centuries.
The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion
that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man.
The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of
His last day, beginning with His condemnation.
The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage
as the individual moves from station to station.
At each station, the individual recalls and meditates
on a specific event from Christ's last day.
Specific prayers are recited,
then the individual moves to the next station
until all 14 are complete.
Click the link below to begin praying the Stations:
THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS WITH BISHOP BARRON
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FORMED BOOK CLUB
Modern science is giving more
and more astounding
evidence FOR the existence of God.
Join the Formed Book Club and learn about this evidence
in Father Robert Spitzer’s phenomenal new book
“Science at the Doorstep to God.”
Click below to join others in discussing this book:
SCIENCE AT THE DOORSTEP TO GOD
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HOW IS YOUR
RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE FATHER?
There's a powerful parable,
one for both sinners and saints.
Do you have a child, sibling, or friend
who has wandered from the Faith?
Are they leading a life of sin that
harms them and breaks your heart?
You’re most likely familiar with Jesus’
famous parable—and can easily see how
it applies to the prodigal sons you know.
But did you know that this parable has profound
lessons for all of us—not just the fallen-away Catholics
or the big sinners?
Click below to join this 7-day miniseries:
THE PRODIGAL SON MINISERIES
Click below to hear Bishop Barron's homily on the prodigal son:
BISHOP BARRON'S HOMILY ON THE PRODIGAL SON
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ST. JOSEPH
GUARDIAN OF THE REDEEMER
The Month of March, which the Catholic Church
traditionally dedicates to St. Joseph,
is a great occasion to rediscover one of the
most beautiful magisterial documents
dedicated to the Adoptive Father of Jesus:
Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer).
Click below to read about this document:
SOME FACTS ABOUT POPE JOHN PAUL'S DOCUMENT
Click below to read a summary of this document:
A SUMMARY OF THE GUARDIAN OF THE REDEEMER
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HOW'S YOUR
PRAYER LIFE?
Prayer is one of the most basic elements of a life of faith,
but it isn't always easy to do.
Though we're taught that prayer is a "conversation,"
we often feel as if the conversation is completely one-sided.
In "Lectio: Prayer" Dr. Gray shows how the solution
to the problem of prayer
can be found in the Scriptures.
Click below to join Dr. Gray:
LECTIO: PRAYER WITH DR. TIM GRAY
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THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY
VIDEO REFLECTIONS
This Lent the Cincinnati Archdiocese
has prepared gift for you:
video reflections on the
Seven Sorrows of Mary,
one video for each week of Lent.
These videos are short and spiritually fruitful.
Each of our newly ordained priests collaborated
with us on this project, so it’s an opportunity
for you to meet them as well.
This week’s reflection on the FOURTH Sorrow of Mary
features Fr. Jeff Stephens
from Uptown Catholic Family of Parishes
Click the link below to watch Fr. Jeff's reflection:
FR. JEFF'S REFLECTION
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NOVENA PRAYERS
Three Hail Marys Novena
STARTS: MARCH 20
ENDS: MARCH 29
St. Melchtilde beseeched Our Blessed Mother
to assist her in her hour of death,
and Our Lady appeared to her and said:
I will, certainly. But I also want you to say
three special Hail Marys to me every day.
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Oh, Immaculate Mary, Virgin most Powerful, I beseech you, through that immense Power which you have received from the Eternal Father, obtain for me Purity of heart - Strength to overcome all the enemies of my soul -and the special favor I implore in my present necessity.
(Mention intention here)
Mother most pure! Forsake me not, despise not my prayer, graciously hear me for God’s glory, your honor, and the welfare of my soul.
To obtain this favor I honor your Power by reciting:
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.
Amen.
Oh Virgin Mary, My Mother, through that ineffable Wisdom bestowed upon you by the Incarnate Word of God, I humbly beseech you, obtain for me Meekness and humility of heart - a perfect knowledge of the divine Will and strength to accomplish it always.
Oh Mary, Seat of Wisdom; as a tender Mother lead me in the path of Christian Virtue and perfection; enlighten and enable me to do what is most pleasing to your beloved Son. and obtain my petition.
To obtain this grace I honor your Wisdom by reciting:
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.
Amen.
Oh, Mother of Mercy, Mother of penitent sinners, I stand before you sinful and sorrowful, beseeching you through the immense Love given to you by the Holy Spirit for us poor sinners, obtain for me true and perfect contrition for my sins, which I hate and detest with all my heart, because I love God.
Mother most Merciful, help me in my present necessity.
Turn, then those eyes of Mercy toward us, Oh Clement, Oh Loving oh Sweet Virgin Mary!
To obtain this precious gift, I honor Your Loving Mercy by reciting:
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.
Amen.
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2024 YEAR OF PRAYER
The Vatican presented initiatives to
"rediscover the value of prayer"
during the 2024 Year of Prayer
in preparation of the Jubilee 2025.
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The Prayer for This Week During This Year of Prayer
The prayer for this week during this Year of Prayer
is a moving prayer known as “Learning Christ”
by St. John Henry Newman.
It is a poignant plea to live a deeply
authentic, faith-centered life in God.
Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of life: in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.
Let me put myself aside, to think of the happiness of others, to hide my little pains and heartaches, so that I may be the only one to suffer them.
Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not harden nor embitter me; that it may make me patient, not irritable, that it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow, haughty and overbearing.
May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure, less noble for having been a fellow-traveller in our journey toward eternal life.
As I go my rounds from one distraction to another, let me whisper, from time to time, a word of love to You.
May our life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity.
AMEN
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NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
NEW WEEKLY INFO
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DAILY SCHEDULE
At the 10th National Eucharistic Congress,
our Catholic family will gather to experience profound,
personal renewal through the power of Christ’s love.
Like a new Pentecost, this transformation will flow out
from Indianapolis to bring revival in our communities
as the Church returns to her first love—
the source and summit of our faith.
Every day at the Congress is designed to facilitate
this life-changing encounter with Jesus,
regardless of where you are on your faith journey.
Attendees will select their preferred series of impact sessions
for the morning and breakout sessions for the afternoon.
Then, gathered together as one, the whole assembly
will experience the powerful revival sessions
in Lucas Oil Stadium each evening.
Click below to see the daily schedule:
DAILY SCHEDULE
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An Historic Journey
Throughout the National Eucharistic Revival,
local communities are gathering in response
to God's invitation for renewal
calling on the Holy Spirit to bring the flame.
The pilgrimage will accompany Jesus
from city to city, lighting hearts on fire along the way.
Click below to explore the interactive map
following the four routes across
the United Sates and register
for one of the many free events.
INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWING 4 ROUTES
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Lenten Eucharistic Prayer Companions are ready!
These beautiful prayer guides will help you
keep prayer at the center of your Lenten practices
this year by guiding you in connecting
an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament with the Mass.
Click below to download the Prayer Companion:
LENTEN EUCHARISTIC PRAYER COMPANION
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DETAILS AVAILABLE
A daily schedule for the National
Eucharistic Congress is live on our website.
You can now explore what this incredible
experience will look like day by day.
Preview the options for impact sessions in the morning
that speak to your particular vocation and mission.
Then, get excited for the dynamic revival sessions,
when the whole assembly will gather in Lucas Oil Stadium
to experience the power and love of Jesus.
These sessions—and the soon-to-be-announced
afternoon breakout sessions—
will be led by the expansive list of faithful speakers
who will join us in Indianapolis this summer.
Scroll through the updated schedule to
see many powerful opportunities for
encounters with Christ through prayer and the sacraments.
Click the link below for EVENT schedules:
EVENT SCHEDULES
Click the link below for IMPACT Sessions:
IMPACT SESSIONS
Click the link below for the SPEAKERS list:
SPEAKERS LIST
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If you see a link on your device's screen that says,
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please click that link to continue seeing the entire newsletter.
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REGISTRATION INFO FOR THE CONGRESS
WILL YOU BE THERE, TOO?
You can join us!
July, 2024
for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
Directly experience the fruits of your intercession and
see its impact around the country.
Click the link below to REGISTER:
REGISTRATION FOR 10TH
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE
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QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK
CAN CATHOLICS BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION?
Scroll down to find the answer!
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HUMOR
HIGHLIGHT
One Word
After a long illness, a woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven.
While she was waiting for Saint Peter to greet her,
she peeked through the Gates.
She saw a beautiful banquet table.
Sitting all around were her parents and all the other people
she had loved and who had died before her.
They saw her and began calling greetings to her -- "Hello" "How are you!
We've been waiting for you!" "Good to see you."
When Saint Peter came by, the woman said to him,
"This is such a wonderful place! How do I get in?"
"You have to spell a word," Saint Peter told her.
"Which word?", the woman asked.
"Love."
"The woman correctly spelled "Love" and Saint Peter welcomed her into Heaven.
"About two years later, Saint Peter came to the woman
and asked her to watch the Gates of Heaven for him that day.
While the woman was guarding the Gates of Heaven,
her husband arrived.
"I'm surprised to see you," the woman said.
"How have you been?"
"Oh, I've been doing pretty well since you died," her husband told her.
"I married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill.
And then I won the lottery.
I sold the little house you and I lived in and bought a big mansion.
My wife and I traveled all around the world.
"We were on vacation and I went water skiing today.
I fell, the ski hit my head, and here I am. "How do I get in?"
"You have to spell a word," the woman told him.
"Which word?", her husband asked.
"Czechoslovakia."
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GOSPEL READING REFLECTION
For MARCH 17, 2024
5th SUNDAY IN LENT
JN 12:20-33
LOVING LIFE
- When Our Lord was lifted up from the earth he began to draw everyone to him.
- To be “lifted up from the earth” can mean Christ’s entire work to save and sanctify men: his sufferings, his being lifted up on the cross on which he died, his rising up from the dead, and his Ascension into heaven.
- Why draw everyone to him? Christ is “the source of eternal salvation,” as Hebrews puts it.
- When Our Lord was lifted up from the earth, God judged the world.
- Part of the judgment was against the ruler of this world, that is, the devil, and the judgment was to begin to drive him out of the world.
- The other part of the judgment pertained to us. This judgment was radically different than what we might expect from the judgment against the world in the story of Noah or the judgment against Sodom in the time of Lot. Instead, God’s judgment was that he loves us even in our sins and wants to save us. He wants to lift us from the dominion of the devil whose subjects we are if we sin.
- When Our Lord was lifted up from the earth, he glorified the Father and himself.
- He did this in the most surprising and counterintuitive way. He glorified himself by completely emptying himself, by letting himself be marred and humiliated and crushed. An earthly man would glorify himself by slaying all his enemies and forcing everyone else to serve him. The God-man glorified himself by serving everyone and by letting himself be slain.
- We participate in God’s good judgment toward sinners when we turn from loving our lives to hating it. What does it mean to hate your life?
- It means to turn from one’s understandable desire for self-preservation to reliance on God’s care.
- One’s desire for self-preservation is seen in holding on to, by whatever means necessary, ‘my needs, my desires, my pleasures, my health, my honor, my reputation, my being right.’
- Hating your life also means ordering all of those good things to the will of God.
- To live the virtue of Christian chastity, for example, means ordering one’s desire for sexual pleasure according to the will of God. This means saying no to what the desire wants in many circumstances and yes to it in others. That saying ‘no’ is the kind of good self-hatred Christ advocates.
- When we hate our lives—in this sense—we plant the grain of wheat of eternal life in the ground so that it can begin to grow and bear fruit. When we do this “the Father will honor” us, because we are serving his son.
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ANSWER TO QUIZ
CAN CATHOLICS BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION?
The theory of evolution is a shortened form of the term
“theory of evolution by natural selection,”
which was proposed by Charles Darwin
and Alfred Russel Wallace in the nineteenth century.
The central argument of Darwin’s theory of evolution
starts with the existence of hereditary variation.
Experience with animal and plant breeding
had demonstrated to Darwin that variations
can be developed that are “useful to man.”
So, he reasoned, variations must occur in nature
that are favorable or useful in some way
to the organism itself in the struggle for existence.
Favorable variations are ones that increase
chances for survival and procreation.
Those advantageous variations are preserved
and multiplied from generation to generation
at the expense of less-advantageous ones.
This is the process known as natural selection.
The outcome of the process is an organism that is
well adapted to its environment,
and evolution often occurs as a consequence.
So can Catholics believe in this theory?
Click the link below to watch Jeff Cavins and
Fr. Robert Spitzer tackle this question head-on.
Together, they navigate Genesis,
the Big Bang Theory, evolution and more.
DOES THE BIBLE AGREE WITH SCIENCE?
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BOOK
RECOMMENDATION
We need to be armed for battle!
At all times, and especially during these crazy times in this vale of tears,
we need to lay our foundation in Christ Jesus.
Spiritual reading helps us build and strengthen that foundation.
Order through your favorite book dealer.
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This week's recommendation is:
Jesus, Make Me Fully Alive:
30 Holy Hour Reflections
BY
Fr. Tim Anastos
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No matter what stage of the game you’re in,
today’s schedules are b-u-s-y.
Classes or work, coffee meetups, pickup pickleball games,
time with family—you name it.
The calendar tends to keep the social commitments
and professional pressures high.
In somewhat quieter moments of adulting,
you may be combing apps for common ground,
seeking community, and somehow still feeling
as though you’re just going through the motions.
Associate chaplain of the St. John Paul II Newman Center
at the University of Illinois–Chicago, Fr. Tim Anastos
says that when we take our prayer life seriously,
approaching God with confidence and making a
regular Holy Hour, Jesus begins to replace
anxiety, insecurity, and doubt with
love, freedom, and eternity.
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We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful
spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled,
Christ centered life.
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